The Wilmingtonian., 1887-04-30
The Bachelor Boat Club.

BnOulO not De Au eSnlDltlOn Vi somo fo'y
fine rowing on the Chrstiana this season.
There is no doubt that the Bachelor Boat
Club has a good future in prospect. But
what is needed Is that our young people
take hold with a vim and push "qnatics for
all they are worth. There is no more health
full and helpful, scientifically speaking, all
round exercise than rowing. From the tips
Of the toes to the finger ends every muscle is
set to work while rowing. The chest Is
bloadeued Good clear air il inhaled with
every breath. None of the limbs are imped-
cd by conventional clothing. The blood
rushes with free in Its circulation all through
the veins and arteries. To many young
man a seasons experience at rowing has
been, nnwittingly to him, the saving of his
life.
Though many recognize properly enough
that such exercise as this is something they
owe to themselves as a matter Of self-preser-
have several fine oarsmen here, of whom the
club no doubt will have opportunity to be
proud of in the coming seasons races.
We don't propose to read them lesson
for they probably know as much in regard
to what is good form in rowing and what is
OF as anyone In Wilmington, but 1t may
have escaped the notice Of some Of them that
the champion oarsman, Edward Hanlan,
whom all will admit as an authority on boat
ing has been critioising in friendly way the
style of the Harvard crew. His remarks will
probably be of interest to many members of
the Bachelors Club, especially as they are
most carefully given and are the results of
closely watching the Harvard University
| eight ever siucs they commenced practice
! this season.
Mr.. Hanlan said
"To say that have not noticed the way
tic Harvard crew has been rowing would
be telling what is not true, as am close
observer of all kinds of rowing and often
pick up some valuable information which
eventually serves me in some way. have
watched the Harvards very closely ever since
l began training on the Charles. aud they
arc making strides in the right direction.
They a. rowing in good form for a crew
that has bad no experience or practice to
speak of. There is one great fault in their
rowing, and it is Of so grieyous nature that
| If their opponents are equally as good crew
and are boated as we'll they will surely win,
pro7iding they handle their sweaps in the
proper way.
"The fault is in their recovery. When
they take their cars out of the water and
slide back for their stroke their featreIing
is very bad. They scarcely give the blade a
quarter turn aud then for not more than half
the distance. Just think of eight of those
large bladed oars being forced back against
head wind and the amount Of resistance
tha. will be created. have noticed, when
the wind was strong, that the effect was
lose fully 80 seconds in five miles with a
heavy wind, while If there was no wind at
IN their favor and smooth sea it would be
uui different thing. AS the water is not
always smooth on the college couise II would
be advisable to practice feathsriug from the
moment the oar is taken out Of the water
In rowing against the wind and not giving
the over the half or nearly half turn, the
wind driving against the blade makes il
tiresome to recover, and, also, it breaks III
the regular swinging stroke that they shoulc
have, aud as natural consequence the crew
becomes demoraliaed especially whom thu
other crew comes up in good form.
~ hate to compare the rowing OF ou
crews with those OF other countries, but, a
you have asked me to, I will say just what
think about them. Tie English oolleg
oaysmeu rrw better than the Americans do
because th, y have studied rowing aud know
what they are about. They sit more srec
ard pull with their shoulders aud legs, thu
bringing no strain Oh the stomach. Their
; is ouly one more fault in the Harvard strok
and that is also In tue recovery. It is TIN
pause before the dip, which is quite percep
tible, and impedes the progress of tho boat
There is no reason why crew that
IA rowing as cleverly as the Harvard eight car
IS not remedy those two faults, and woul
st venture TO say improve tue style Of thei
> rowing, not to speak of the minute or moa
!, that they would gain by so doing. wan
"a to state, in justice to the Harvard boys, ths
IN it would never do for them to row like pre-
'e fessiouals as they all have different styles {
getting their power on. It has always bee
the custo for instructors iu rowing to max
the novice keep his back straight Will
reaching for his stroke, and Ito incline th
body toward the stern Of the boat so tha
when the gar is dii ped III the water th
sculler could throw the shoulders back an
/, at the same time kick out with the feel. .Th
:. :. would bring the strain on the shoulders an
legs, the pats that are most lifted for resist